Turbine and controller mechanism therefor.



No. 822,798. PATENTED JUNE 5;, 1996.

J. WILKINSON. TURBINE AND CONTROLLER MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED 811F126, 1904.

2 SHEETB-SHEET 1 WITNESSES: lNVENTOl? A TTORN E V PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906. J. WILKINSON.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.26,1904.

z SHBETS-SHBET 2 TURBINE AND CONTROLLER MECHANISM THEREFOR.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES l i'rnnr OFFICE.

JAMES WILKINSON, OF BIRMINGHAM. ALABAMA. ASSIGNOR TO WILKINSON TURBINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ALABAMA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

i-atenteu June 6, 1906.

Application filed September 26, 1904. Burial No. 226,017.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James WILKINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Turbines and Controller Mechanism Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to elasticfluid turbines and controller means therefor.

In Letters Patent heretofore issued to me I have shown and described a compound turbine'of the jet type operating by stage expansion and provided with two or more independent sets of wor passages which act to drive the turbine 1n the same direction at different speeds.

It is one object of my present invention to sim lify the construction and arrangement f these working assages by providing one or more of the high-pressure stages with these independent sets of working pas es, while the other low-pressure stages have at one set of working passages which cooperate with either or both of the sets of hi h-pressure passages. Broadly considered, t JJis feature of my invention contemplates providing a turbine of any type with a working assage which is divided at its supply end, t ere being different arran ements of buckets in the divided portions 0% the working pass I am thus enabled to v the number 0 rows of buckets against wh i dh the motor fluid acts in its passage through the turbine by passing it through one or the other of the sets of initial buckets arranged in the divided portion of the working passage. The arrangement and number of rows of buckets in the initial working passages may be varied to suit different requirements or to produce diflerent effects as to speed or power.

To control a. turbine of the character above described, it is essential that the valves controlling the single set of working passages in the lowressure stages shoul be operated indepen ently of the valves for the two sets of working passages leading through the highpressure stage or stages. To this end I provide an im roved controller mechanism,preferably uti izing fluid-pressure as-a means to effect the desired control of the valves of the two sets of working passages, and an independent controller mechanism, also utilizing uid-pressure for regulating the flow of motor fluid through the low-pressure sta es.

It is a further object to improve t e construction of the motors for operating the turbins-valves and also the manner of forming the nozzle-passe es in the supply-heads for the several whee -compartments.

I have shown the improvements hereinbefore described embodied in a two-speed forward-driving turbine, whichis more particularly designed for marine pro ulsion, where it is preferably used in combination with a reversing turbine connected to its shaft.

It is a further object of my invention to supply motor fluid to this reversing turbine b conduits communicat' with the supply- 0 amber of the forward-drivin turbine and successively opened and closed by a valve preferably forming a part of the com ound controller mechanism for the forwar -d.riving turbine.

It is a further object to provide the reversing turbine with a strengthening-shell surrounding the inner cas' thereof and to provide a dead-air chamber tween the shell and praising to prevent the radiation of heat there- The construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and illustrated in the drawings, constitute a preferable embodiment of my invention, it being understood that the details of construction may be vatied and such substitution of equivalents made as is within the spirit of my invention.

According to the drawin s, Figure 1 is a side elevation of acompound marine turbine comprising a two-speed forward-driving and a single-speed reversing turbine mounted upon a common shaft and provided with a common controller mechanism. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the two-speed turbine broken away and shown partly in section through the controller mechanism. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the reversing turbine. Fig. 4 is a section throigh the controller mechanism along the line a a of Fig. 2, showing the rotary valve-shell partly in section and broken away to indicate the arrangement of ports in its seat. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the middle controllerchamber of Fig. 4, the rotary shell appearing in side elevation partly broken away. Fig. 6 is a section throu h the line 2: (l7, and Fig. 7 is a section throng the line y y of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section along the line a 2, Fig. 4. Figs. 9 and 10 are broken-awe sectional views showing the controller-vs. ve shell in different operating positions. Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view in section of one of any desired number of nozzle-passages with the motor-actuated valve therefor, the motor shown being one adapted for use in high or low pressure stages. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the part forming an intermediate portion of a pair of nozzles.

Similar reference-numerals refer to the same parts throughout the drawings.

The two-speed forward-driving turbine 1 and the reversing turbine 2 are mounted upon a bed-plate 3 and drive a common shaft 4, mounted in suitable bearings .i and 6 and carrying a propeller 7.

Referrin to Fig. 2,the two-speed forwarddrivin tur ine comprises a supply-head 8 and ex haust-head 9, which latter is connected to a shell 10, which surrounds the inner casing formed b the abuttin -flanged peripheries 11 of t e disheddiaphragm-panhtions 12, which divide the interior 0 the turbine into stages or wheel-compartments. The low-pressure diaphragl: 13 projects beyond the intermediate diap agnm, its flanged peri hery be' seated in a cut-away portlon of t e shell ant provided with an inwardlydisposed flange 14, which interlocks with a flan e of the adjacent diaphragm. The sup plv-head 8 has an overhanging shoulder 15, which abuts a ainst the shell, being held in place by a locking-ring l6, engaging a channel in the end of t e shell. The inner periphcry of the shell itself is cut away, so that a chamber 17 is formed between the inner casing and the shell to which motor-fluid pressure is supplied by a port 18. From the chamber 17 the motor-fluid pressure flows through a plurality of radially-disposed passages 19 (one of which is shown in dotted lines, F 2) and enters a plurality of nozzle passa s disposed in two sets at different radia distances from the shaft-center. The construction and arrangement of these noz zle-passages and of the rotary fluid-actuated I valves for controlling the admission of motor fluid thereto is more fully explained in my Letters Patent No. 752,496. Briefly described, the valves 20 control the inner set of supply-passages and the valves 21 the outer set, bot sets of valves being disposed in the supply-head and connected to stems of pistons disposed in motors 22 and 23, respectively. The c 'linders for these motors may be formed in the head or inserted therein in any desired manner. The sets of sup ly-nozzle pass me for the first st w ich are controller by the valves 20 an 21, dischar motor fluid against a bucket-wheel 24 in t e sea-ms first stage This wheel has an inner row of buckets 25 cooperatin with the inner set of supply-nozzles and a double row of buckets 26 cooperating with the outer set of supplynozzles and having disposed between them a stationary row of Intermediate buckets mounted upon a body portion 27, which is held in position between the interlockin shouldered portion of the supply-head an the peripheral flange 11 of the first dia hragm. This secures the set of intermediates iirmly in place and at the same time enables them to e readily removed when the machine is taken apart. The body portion 27 is preferabl in the form of a segmental ring.

eretofore in atents issued to me I have shown the diap ragm -partitions provided with thickened peripheral shoulders which were recessed or chambered to, receive the sta e-valves and their actuating-motors. Acco ing to my present construction I disgense with this shoulder, leaving only the ange 11, which corresponds in height with the dip of the diaphragm, which has a pronounced dish to increase its stren th. It will be noted that these flanges 11, w ch at their e preceding head-diaphragm and hold a set of intermediates in place, leave space below the bucket-wheel for the rece tion of a valve and motor casing 28, which is olted or otherwise secured to the to of the diaphragm adjacent to its flange. mm the first stage or wheel compartment two sets of nozzle-passages 29 and 30 lead through the first diaphragm and discharge motor fluid res ectively against buckets 25 and 26 of hue etwheel 24 in the second stage or wheel compartment. I preferably form these sta enozzle passages as shown in Fig. 11. e bowl or admission end 31 of each nozzle is cut downwardly into the diaphragm in any desired manner and a plug 32, provided with a transverse channel, Inserted radially into the diaphragm, so that the channel in the lug forms the curved intermediate portion 0 the nozzle-passage and the rounded entrance of the nozzle proper as 29 or 30. The nozzles 29 and 30 when disposed in radial alinement may have their rounded entrances formed by the same plug, which will be driven radially through each pair of nozzles. This arrangement greatl simplifies the construction of curver nozz epassages, which are desirable 111 my present construct-ion.

Referrin now to the valve and motor casing 28 for t e first stage, this comprises two va ve-chambers 33, communicating through ports 34 with the stage-compartment and through ports 35 with the bowls 31 of two nozzles 29 and 30. A rota valve 36 is disposed within each valve-c amber, having circular and portions 37 disposed within circular seats at. either end of the valve-chamber. The valve is adapted to be inserted into ulpper ends are shouldered to interlock with t IZC its chamber through one end thereof. The valves are reduced to leave two parallel lips 38, which when they are closed engage pairs of shoulders 39, disposed on each side of the orts 35. In each compound casing the valve or the nozzle 29 is operated by a motor 40 and the valve for the nozzle 30 is operated by an independent motor 41. The valves and motors are similar in construction and arran ement, and only one will therefore be descri B reference to Fig. 11 1t will be seen that a va vs 36 is connected by a crank 42 with the stem 43 of a piston 44, disposed in a chamber 45, which is formed in the cornpound casing as a preferred form. The piston-cylinder is beveled at each end and the piston itself has beveled faces, the lower end of the cylinder being of reduced dlameter and provided with an opening through which the stem 43 passes. he manner m which the operation of these pistons may be controlled differs according to the pressure of the stage and other conditions. I 'have shown one form in Fi 11, wherein a spring 46 engages the under ace of the piston, tending to move the valve to its closed position, while a pipe 47 enters the upper end of the cylinder and subject to a controller mechanism hereinaiter described, admits a high pressure against the upper beveled face of the piston, tending to move it to a lowered position to open the valve. When the spnng acts against the piston in opposltion to pressure admitted by the pipe 47, it is evident that if a high stage-pressure have access to the lower side of the piston the controllerpressure will not be sufiiciently in excess of the combined action of spring and stage pressure to insure a positive opening movement for the valve. It is therefore necessary to expose the piston below to a low pressure, and I accordingly use packing 48 around the stem 43 to prevent the entrance of stage-pressure to the cylinder, which has a port 49, adapted to communicate with a low or atmosp eric pressure in any desired manner. It is obvious, however, that if the spring be so placed as to cooperatewith the pressure admitted through pipe 47 that the cylinder could then be opened to the stage-pressure below and the packing and port 49 (llS ensed with. This construction may be use in all intennediate stages. When the motor operating in a stage where the pressure is below that of the atmosphere, the port 49 may be used to admit the atmosphere to assist the sprin 46 in closing the valve. The lower end 0 the stem 43 and the crank 42 move in a chamber 50, which leads from the valvechamber 33.

One or more of the hi h-pressure sta es may be provided with don lc sets of nozz es an compound valve and motor casi s, which act to independently control the 1scharge of mot-or fluid between stage-compartments. To simplify construction, it is my purpose to control the [low of motor fluid through the remaining stages by means of single sets of nozzle-passages 51 and valves 36 therefor, mounted in single valve and motor casings 52. The bucket-wheels 53 for the low-pressure stages will therefore be provided with a single set of buckets 54, arranged at the same distance from the shaft center. As many stages as desired may be provided with these single sets of nozzle-passa es, and the motors for controlling them wil correspond in construction and operation with the motors already described. Controller fluid-pressure is admitted to the piston-cylinders in these latter casings through pipes 55. I have shown but one each of t e inner and outer sets of working passages leading through the several stages, it being considered unnecessary to do licate the description for the several sets 0 working passages with which the turbine is preferably provided. It will he noted hereinafter by reference to the controller mechanism that the turbine 1 is preferably provided with seven each of the several sets of supply and stage valves.

The controller mechanism for the turbine 2 comprises a casing 56, communicating with the flmd-pressure-supply chamber 1 7 through two ports 57, leading through the shell 10 and communicatin with a passage 58, which leads over a centre. shoulder 59 in the casing, which serves as a seat for the rotary valveshcll 60. The seat in the shell is prel'erabl formed as a semicircular groove in the shou der 59, throu h which lead two rows of ports 61 and 62, w ich respectively communicate with pipes 63 and 64, connected by couplings with the pipes 65 and 66. The pipes 65 by suitable couplings connect with the several pipes 47, leading to the motors 40, and also with channels leadin through the supplyhead and ente tlie motor-cylinders 22. The pipes 66 by similar branch connections communicate with the motor-cylinders 41 and 23. The valve-shell 60 is provided with an inner cylindrical chamber 67, communicatingat one end through a port 68, Fig. 7, with a groove 69 opening into the highressure chamber 58. At its other end the 0 Jamher 67 communicates by a port 70, Fig. 6, with a channel 71, which opens through a port 72 to the atmosphere or other source of owpressure. The slell 60 is reduced over its u or rtion, leaving a lower segmental sho ere. portion which 0 ages the multiported seat. This shouldrr d portion is '0- vided with two rows of ports 73 and 74 which lead from the chamber 67 and are adapted to register with one or the other, or both. of the rows of orts 61 and 62 in the seat 59. Two longiturinal )assages 75 lead from the exhaust-channel 71 and communicate, respectively, with rows or bypassage exhaustports 76 and 77, disposed on each side of and equidistant from the rows of ports 73 and 74. A piston 78 moves pressure-tight within the chamber 67, havi a stem 79, which passes out throu h a tub iilar spindle 80, formed integrnl with the valve-shell 60. This spindle projects through a removable plug 81, suitable packing means being used to prevent the escape of pressure around it from the chamber 58. Acrank 82,connected to the spindle, acts to move the shell, so that, as seen 111 Fig. 2, its row of ports 74 register with the orts 62, while the exhaust-ports 76 communicate with the ports 61. In Fig. 9 it will be seen that the ports 73 and 74 register with the ports 61 and 62, while in Fig. 10 the exhaustports 77 register with ports 62, whole ports 73 communicate with ports 61. It being noted that the ports 61 and 62 communicate through pipe connections with the independ ent sets of valve-motors for the inner and outer working passages, respectively, it will be seen that whenever either set of orts 61 or 62 are ex osed to the low or exhaust pressure throng the ports 76 or 77, passages 75, and exhaust-port 72 the valve-motors to which the Y are connected will move the valves 36 un er their control by springs or stage-pressure to a closed position, as seen in F n 11.

y moving the crank 82 to one or the other of its three operating positions I can cut the inner or the outer set of working passages out of service or admit fluidressurc to both of them simultaneouslv. 0 control the admission 01 motor fluid to the active working passages, I provide a gear-wheel 83, which meshes with the rack 84, connected to or formed integral with the stem 79 for the piston 78. A wheel 85 is used to turn the gear 83, and by shifting the piston 78 back and forth in its cylinder I admit the high or low pressure successively to the ports in the valveshell and through the communicating passages to the valvemotors.

The controller mechanism for the low-pressure stages comprises a controller-chamber 86, preferably formed in one side of the easing 56 and communicating atone end with the pressure-chamber 58 through a port 87. At its other end the chamber is exposed to the exhaust-pressure through a passage 88, Fig. 8. A removable plug 89 closes the other end of the cylinder and serves as a packing for the stem of piston 90, which moves pressure-tight within the chamber and admits the high and low ressure to a series of ports 91, leading throng the casing and communicating with the pipes 92. These pipes are suitably coupled to pipes 93, which lead through the flanges 11 and 14 of the lowpressure diaphragm and connect with the cylinders in the valvebasmgs 52. The operation of the valves and motors in. these latter casings being identical with those described in the high-pressure stages, it follows that the admission of high or low pressure through the pipes 93 will cause the valves to open or close in accordance with the position 0 piston 90. This latter piston is operated by a wheel 94 through a gear and rack similar to S3 and 84. By this means I provide an independent control for the single set of working passagleis of the low-pressure stages hp means of w ch I can adjust the volume 0 motor fluid flowing through them in accordance with the volume of motor fluid assing through the high -pressure stages. bus when motor-fluid pressure is flowing through the full-speed working passages a. greater number of low-pressure valves will e opened than when the low or cruising speed working passages are in action, and similarly a greater number of low-pressure stage-valves will be opened when both sets of high-pressure working passages are thrown open to compensate an overload condition.

I have thus described the construction and arrangement and a prcferred mechanism for controlling the turbine I, which may he used independently of other turbin s or as shown in combination with the reversing turbine 2, which I shall now describe.

The turbine 2 comprises a series of shouldered diaphragms 95, through which lead nozzle-passages 96, adapted to discharge motor fluid against rows of buckets 97, carried by bncketavheels 98, one of which is disposed within each compartment. The intorlocking peripherics of the diaphragms form the inner casing of which the supplyhead 99 and exhaust-head 100 are engaged and h ld in place by a shell 10], corresponding with shell 10. The chamber l02,formed between the shell and easing, serves asa deadair chamber to prevent excessive radiation of heat from the turbine. Motor-fluid pres sure is admitted to this turbine throu h four nozzle-passe s I03, leading through t e supplv-head an communicating with pipes 104, w iich are disposed within the casing 105, through which they lead to a s ries of passagcs 106 in casing 56. Each of passages 106 communicat "swith a port 107 .leading from a chamber 108 in the opposite side of the con troller-casing from chamber 86. The high pressure in passage 58 enters both ends of chamber 108 through passage [09 and port 110, so that the controll r-piston ll 1 therein is practically balanced. This piston is operated under the control of a wheel 112 in the mann r described for the other pistons. The piston [11 comprises two h ads 113 hrtwoon which its body portion is reduced, the distance between the heads being suflicient to cut oil the admission of high pressure to all of the ports 107 simultaneously' or to each of them successively. In this manner the motor-fluid snpplv to the turbine 2 flows directly from the chamber 58 of the turbine 1 to the pipes 104 through the simply-nozzles 103, its volume being controlled 1y the position of the piston ill.

The n'inciplcs of operat on of my pr s nt 5 invention may be carried into effect in connection with turbines employing a plurality of rows of buckets mounted equidistant from the shaft-center on the bucket-wheels of each stag and also where the several sta ecompartments are formed in separate she ls or casings or even where the high-pressure stages provided with two sets of workm pas sages are disposed in on: casing, whl e the low-pressure stages operating in series therei 5 with and having a single sat of working passages are disposed in a separate casing. It may also be adapted for use in turbines of the reaction type or where a portion of the working passage acts with reaction effect. I rovide each compartment or stage of tur- Kine l with a pressure and temperature indicator 114, mounted, preferably, above the controll'r-casim 56 on the sh ll 10.

The exhaust-heads 9 and 100 of the two turbinzs communicate through passages 115 and 116, respectively, with the atmosphere or with a condens r, as may be desired. .W'bcn drivinv a propeller, the bearin 6 of the turbinehaft will be of any desire type of thrust-bearing. The port 117 (shown in Fig. 3) may be us ed to drain the water of condensation in chamb:r 58 into the chamber 17, from which it may be withdrawn by a steam-trap or in any suitable manner. The chambers 86 and 109 will be also drained by this rn'ans.

To simplify construction, the plug 32 may be split at one end and spread apart to enable the portions thereof to be machined or cut out to form the apertures.

Though I have shown the valve-casings and motor-cylinders as formed integral, it is to be understood that they may be formed separately and connected in any suitable manner, or the two may be inde endently connected to the diaphragms. hess and other changts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, it being my intention to claim and protect, broadly erein, the novel features of construction and arrangements of parts hereinbefore described.

Having thus described my iuvention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- 5 5 ters Patent, is

1. In an elastic-fluid turbine operating by stage expansion, the combination with two sets of supply-nozzle passages for the turbine and independent sets of movable buckets cooperating respectively with said sets of nozzle-passages, of a single set of stage-nozzle passages and movable buckets therewith.

2. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combi- 5 nation of movable buckets and cooperating cooperating nozzle-passages operating by stage expansion, said nozzle-passages and buckets for one or more of the hi h-pr ssurc stag s being arranged in indepen ent cooperating sets design d to produce different speeds of shaft rotation, while the nozzle-passages and buckcts for a low-pressur. :st.:g or stages are arranged in a single set which cooperates with either or both of the st ts of nozzle-passages and buckets in the high-pressure stage or stages.

, 3. In an elastic-fluid turbine operating by stage ex ansion, nozzlc-passagcs and m0vable buc ets forming independent working passages, across the high-pressure stage or stages, which mer a into a common working passage across t c IO\V-PI'\'SSUI' stage or stages.

4. In a multicellular turbine, the combination of movable buckets and cooperating 5 nozzlepassa es operating by stage expansion, the hue cts being arranged in independent sets at different distances from the shaftcenter in one or more of the high-pressure stages only. go

5. In an elastic-fluid turbine o eratin by stage expansion, a set of movaiile buckets an one or more cooperating nozzles for each st e, and a second set of movable buckets an one or more cooperating nozzles for a highressure stage.

6. u an elastic-fluid turbine operating by stage expansion, a bucket-bearin element for each stage, a double set of buc kets for a high-pressure stage or stages and a single set TOO for the other stage or stages carried by said elements, one or. more nozzles cooperating with each set of buckets, and stationary intermediates between the rows of buckets comprised in one of the sets of buckets for a 1 5 big ressure stage or stages.

7 11 an elastic-fluid turbine operating by stage expansion, the combination with two sets of nozzles for the high-pressure stage or stages which are disposed at different disuo tances from the shaft, independent valve means to control each set of nozzles, two sets of buckets in said sta es which cooperate with said nozzles to drive the turbine with equal efficiency at different speeds, and

means to control the flow of motor fluid through said nozzles, of movable buckets and cooperating nozzles for the low-pressure stage or stages, and independent means to control the ow of motor fluid through said :20 latter nozzles.

8. In a controller mechanism for an clastio-fluid turbine operating by sta e expansion, the combination with fluic -actua-ted valve means to control the flow of motor fluid through the turbine of a controller-chamber for the valves supplying motor fluid to the high-pressure stage or sta s, a separate controller-chamber for the va ves supplying motor fluid to the low-pressure stage or stages, 13o

independent controller-valve means within said chmnbers, and means to transmit pressure from said chambers to said valve means, for the purposes described.

9. In an elastic-fluid turbine operating by stage expansion, the combination of two independent sets of coiiperatln nozzles and buckets for the first stages, 0 single sets of cooperating nozzles and buckets for the other stages, a fluid pressure controller means ada ted to control the admission of motor flui to one or the other, or both of said sets of nozzles in the first stages, and an inde endent controller means for regulating the ow of motor fluid through the other or low-pressure stages.

10. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination with cooperating nozzles and movable buckets operating by stage expansion, of fluid-pressurc-actuated valve means for controlling the su fply of motor fluid. to the several sta es, an ind-pressure controller mechanism For one or more of the high-pressure stages, and an independent fluid-pressurecontroller mechanism for the low-pressure stage or stages.

11. In a multicellular turbine, one or more nozzles and a 006 era-ting set of buckets for one or more of t e highpressure compartmcnts, a second nozzle or nozzles and set of coo crating buckets for said compartments, said nozzles and buckets being adapted to operate by stage expansion to produce forward motion at different speeds, a fluid-pressurecontroller mechanism adapted, under normal load conditions, to regulate the admission of motor fluid against one of said sets of buck ets, while cutting olf the supply from the other set, and also adapted, under overload conditions, to simultaneously admit motor fluid against both sctsof buckets, in combination with a set of nozzles and cooperating buckets for each of the other compartments, and an independent controller mechanism ada ted to vary the volume of motor fluid disc urged against the buckets in said latter compartments.

12. In an elastic-fluid turbine operating by stage expansion and adapted to drive a shaft in one direction at different speeds, the combination of buckets and nozzles forming full-speed working passages through one or more of the h' h-pressure stages, independent nozzles an buckets forming low-speed working passages throu h the same stage or stages, and nozzles anti buckets forming a single set of working passages leading through the low-pressure stages and adapted to cooperate with either the full or low speed working assages orboth, independent valves to contro the said nozzles, a controller mechanism for the full and low speed nozzles, and means to open and close the nozzleassages for the lowressure stages indepen ently of said control or mechanism.

13. In a controller mechanism for a turbine provided with two il'idcpeudent sets of workln I passages comprising each a set of movable iuckets and one or more cooperating nozzles, fluid-pressure-actuatcd valves for said nozzles, conduits to conduct fluidpressure to actuate said valves, and a contrailer-valve )rovided with two sets of ports adapted to a nut hi h pressure to said conduits in one of the va ve's operating positions, and ports in said valve communicating with exhaust-pressure and adapted to expose the conduits leading to the valves of one of said sets of working passa as to said exhaust-pressure when the contro ler-valve is in either of its other operatin positions.

14. In a control or mechanism, a controller-chamber formed in a movable casing,two sets of ports in said casing, means to admit h h and low pressures to op ositc ends of said chamber, a valve mova le therein to control the admission of said pressures to said ports, two lon itudinal passages formed in said casing amfcommumcating with an exhaust-pressure, openings leading through the shell to said passages, and a plurality of conduits for communicating high or low pressure to fluid-actuated means within the turbine for controlling the flow of motor fluid, said conduits being so arranged that they may be all in communication with the ports in said casing or part in communication with said exhaust-openings, while the rest communicate with said ports.

15. In a controller mechanism for an elastic-fluid turbine operating by stage expansion, the combination of a pressure-supply chamber; for the turbine, at controller-chamber communicating at two points with said pressure-chamber, a passage in said casing connecting with two ports and leading over a shoulder in said casing, a valve-seat formed in said shoulder and provided with a plurality of ports which communicate with conduits leading to the fluid-actuated means within the turbine, a valve movably mounted 611 said seat, and means to operate said valve.

16. In an elastic-fluid turbine operatin by sta 9 expansion, :1 fluid-pressure control ler me lianism for the supply-valves in one or more of the high-pressure sta es, and indecndent fluid-pressure control or mechanism or the supply-valves of the other or lowpressure st es, said mechanism comprising two contro lfiir-chambers formed in a common casing and communicating with a source of high pressure, and controller-valvo means disposed within said chambers and adapted to be independently operated.

17. In an elastic-fluid turbine operating by stage ex ansion, two fluid-pressure controller mec ianisms for the stage-supply valves, said mechanism comprising two controller-chambers disposed within a suitable casin ports admitting high pressure to said chem ere, ports admitting low pressure to said chambers, a piston-valve movable in each chamber, and ports leading therefrom which are exposed to one or the other of said pressures by said pistons, and conduits adapted to conununicate with said ports and with means for operating the turbinewalves 18. In a compound turbine, the combination of a high-pressure forward-driving turbine, and a reversing turbine, with a motoriluid-supply passage for the high-pressure turbine, a chamber communicating therewith, a plurality of conduits leading from said chamber and communicating with supplyq'iozzles for the reversi turbines, and valve means to control the a mission of motor fluid to said conduits.

19. In a compound turbine comprising a forward-drivin turbine and a reversing turbine, a control er-chamber for said forwarcldriving turbine, means to admit high pressure thereto, valve means therein to control the admission of said high pressure to valveactuatin means, a chamber communicating with said high pressure, ports therein, conduits connecting said ports with supply-nozzles for the reversing turbine, and a valve in said latter chamber for controlling the admission of high ressure to said ports for the purpose of regu atipg said reversing turbine.

20. In a compound turbine comprising a forward-driving and a reversing turbine, a controllin -casm com rising a controllerchamber iiir the orwarc -driv1ng turbine and a supply-chamber for the reversig chamber, means to admit high pressure to said chamhere, means to conduct said pressure from the supply-chamber for said reversing turbine to the supply-nozzles thereof, and means to control the volume of the motorfluid supply to said reversing turbine.

'21. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a nozzle passage leading through a stationary part thereof, and means inserted into said nozzlebearing art transversely to said nozzle-passage ant adapted to form a stationary part of the rounded entrance to the discharge end of the nozzlepassage.

22. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a supplyhead for a wheel-compartment, a nozzle-passage formed therein and comprising an admission end from which the nozzle pro er leads obliquely throu b said head, ant a plug fixed in said hea transverselv to said nozzle-passage and adapted to form the rounded entrance to the nozzle proper.

'23. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a nozzlepassage formed in a stationary part, said passage comprising an admission end and a discharge cnd leading at an angle through said stationarv part, and a valve controlling the flow of fluid through said combination with an apertured p ug inserted substantially radially into said stationary assage the part, the aperture in said plug being adapted to form an intcrnwdiatc. part of sand nozzlepassage.

24. In an clasticlluid turbine, a supplyhead for a wheel compartmcnt, a nozzle-pas sage leading in a curved direction through said head, on opening in said head intersecting said nozzle-passage, and a split plug insertcd therein and adapted to form an intermediate part of the nozzle-passage.

25. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a plurality of nozzle-passages disposed at difl'erent distances from the shaft-center, a stationary element through which said passages lead, an opening in said element which intersects a p urality of said passages at an intermediate oint, and means inserted in saidopening to arm an intermediate part of said nozzle-pas sages.

26. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a stationary element provided with two nozzle-passages at different distances from the shaftelement and intersectin said two nozzlepassages at an intermediate point, and a lug provided with cut-away portions which is adapted to be inserted into said opening, the cut-away portions of said lug, forming intermediate parts of both nozz epassages.

27. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a supply and an exhaust head for a wheel-compartment, 0. bucket-wheel disposed within said compartment and provided with a plurality of rows of buckets, a set of intermediate buckets and means to support said intermediates comprising a supporting portion or portions, and intersecting flanges carried by said heads between which said supporting portion or portions are held in place.

28. In an elastic-fluid turbine subdivided into sta es by diaphragmartitions, a supply-hen said supply-heat and diaphragms eing pro ided with peripheral flanges which are adapted to abut and which form the easing of the turbine, said flanges being cut away at their abutting portions to form recesses, and stationary buckets havin a supporting portion disposed within sai recesses and eld in place between said flanges, in combination with movable buckets within the Stages.

29. In a sectional elastic-fluid turbine having an inner casing, a shell surronndim said casing and carrying inwardly-disposed projections between which the sections of the casin are held together, and adead air chain or formed between said shell and casing to prevent the radiation of heat from the turbine. I 30. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a diaphragmi partition therein, and a detachable element comprising a valve-bearing portion and motor-cylinder connected to said diaphragm.

31. In an elastic-fluid turbine having a l diaphragm-partition, a nozzle leading therecenter, an opening leading inwardly into said through, a valve-casing mounted on said diaplu': em and communicating with said nozzlrpassage, and a valve therein for cutting said nozzle out of service.

32. In an elastic-fluid turbine having one or more diaphra m artitions, a plurnhtyof nozzle-passages cat. ing through each diaphragm, vatvcs for controlling said nozzlepassages mounted in casings seated upon and detachably connected to said diaphragm or die hragms.

33. n an elastic-fluid turbine having,' one or more diaphregmartitions, a pluralityof nozzle-passages lea ing through each diaphragm, valves for controlling said nozzlepassages mounted in casings seated upon and detachably connected to said diaphragms and means to control the independent operation of said valves.

34. In an elastic-fluid turbine having one or more diaphragmartitions, a plurality of nozzlepassages lea phragm, valves for controlling said nozzlepassages mounted in casings seated upon and detachably connect-ed to said dlaphragms, and fluid-pressure means to open and close said valves independently.

35. In an elastic-fluid turbine operating by stage expansion, the combination with diaphragms and nozzle-passages leading theret-hrough, of means to control the flow of motor fluid through the stages comprising a plurality of valve ahd motor casings detachably connected to said dia hragms and disposed within the stages, uidreassure-actuated valves in said casings, an duct controller-fluid pressure to said motors.

36. In an elastic-fluid turbine divided into stages by a diaphragm, a nozzle-passage leading through said diaphragm, a detachable valve-casing mounted on said diaphragm and provided with ports throu h which. the sta eressure enters said nozz e-passag'e, a va re 11'! said casing to cut said nozzle out of service, and a fluid-motor, to o crate in said valve, which is removable wit 1 said valve-casing.

37. In an elastic-fluid turbine operating by stage expansion, a diaphragm therein, nozzle-passages in said diaphragm, a plurality of ing through each diaconduits to concompound valve and motor casin 's mounted on said diaphragm, valves in said casings to control the admission of motor fluid to said nozzles, and conduits to supply an actuatingfluid pressure to the motor-pistons.

38. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a dia phragmpartition therein provided with a nozzlepassage, a valve-casing mounted on said diaphragm and through which the motor-fluid pressure enters said nozzle-passage, a rotary valve in said casing, a stem for operating said valve, a piston connected to said stem and disposed within a q'lindcr formed integral with said casing, and means utilizing fluidpressure to control the operation of said piston.

39. In an elastic-fluid turbine divided into sta es by a dished diaphragm having a pcrip eral flange and provided with a nozzlepassagc between stages, the combination therewith of a valvccasing, a valve therein, and a motor for actuatin said valve detachablv connected to said diaphragm at. a oint adjacent to said flan e, 21 bucket-wheel for each sta e betwcen w 'ch and said diaphragm said valve and motor are disposed, and means to connect said motor with a controller mechanism.

40. In a set of turbines, the combination with a forward-driving turbine operating b stage expansion and having independent full and cruising speed working passages leading through the high-pressure stages, and a sin le set of working passages leading through t is low-pressure stages and cooperating with either or both of said first-mentioned working passages, of a reversing turbine connected to the shaft of said forward-driving turbine.

4|. An elastic-fluid turbine provided at its high-pressure end with two independent working passa es comprising differently-arranged sets of buckets, and means to sup iy motor fluid thereto, in combination with a single working assage at the low-pressure end of the turbine comprising buckets and stationary guide devices which are supplied with the motor fluid after flowing throu b one or the other of said high-pressure wor ing passages.

42. An elastic-fluid turbine provided with independentsets of buckets and means to supply fluid thereto, in combination with a working passage adapted to be supplied with the motor fluid after it has acted upon either or both of said sets of buckets, said sets of buckets being adapted to produce different driving etl'ects.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J DIES WILKINSON.

Witnesses II. M. IIARTON, Nome WELSH. 

